CC MINS 19870126 SPCM I N U T E S
RANCHO PALOS VE RDES CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
JANUARY 26, 19 8 7
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Mayor Melvin W. Hughes,
notice having been given with affidavit thereto on file.
PRESENT: RYAN, BACHARACH, McTAGGART , HINCHLIFFE AND MAYOR HUGHES
Also present were City Manager Dennis McDuffie, City Attorney Steve Dorsey,
Environmental Services Director Robert Benard, Public Works Director George
Wentz, and City Clerk Jo Purcell.
ORDINANCE NO. 213U - ESTABLISHING
REGULATIONS GOVERNING ABANDONED
COMMERCIAL RECREATIONAL USES
IN THE COASTAL ZONE
(701 x 1801 x 1804)
Mayor Hughes presented a chronology
of the events of the past month
leading up to the sale of Marineland
to Harcourt, Brace & Jovanovich who,
on January 20, 1987, transferred the
killer whales Orky and Corky to
their Sea World facility in San
Diego.
Since those whales represented a significant portion of the entertainment
at Marineland, the Council expressed concern about future plans for the
park. Primary among these concerns was the possibility that the park would
be closed down, the buildings abandoned and that generally it would create
a blight in the coastal zone area. Another major concern was the reduction
in access to the coastal area.
The City Attorney summarized the proposed urgency ordinance and the neces-
sary compliance with the Municipal Code that would have to be adhered to by
the new owners of Marineland.
After discussion of the provisions of this ordinance, the City Attorney
read it in its entirety. Councilwoman Bacharach moved, seconded by Coun-
cilman Ryan to waive further reading and ADOPT ORDINANCE NO* 213U OF THE
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES ESTABLISHING REGULATIONS GOVERNING ABANDONED
COMMERCIAL RECREATIONAL USES IN THE COASTAL ZONE AND DECLARING THE URGENCY
THEREOF.
The motion carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: RYAN, BACHARACH, McTAGGART , HINCHLIFFE AND MAYOR HUGHES
NOES: NONE
Further Council discussion ensued and it was the consensus that staff
should investigate the legality of the animals being moved and that the
C ity Attorney should determine if antitrust provisions would apply since
706CP /MIN8.1
there is the possibility that this regional park would be closed. Since
there is the possibility that the whales might be moved out of state, the
City Attorney was also instructed to find out if the State Legislature has
an interest in keeping these animals in California. Staff was directed to
notify the Legislature of this loss, particularly the County Board of Sup-
ervisors, cities in Ventura and Northern Orange County and the Coastal Com-
mission,
The Mayor requested that Counc i lmemb er s McTaggar t and Ryan contact Senator
Beverly and Assemblyman Felando about this issue.
Staff was also requested to notify the League of California Cities , the _Los
Angeles and Ventura County Boards of Supervisors, the Los Angeles Conven-
tion Bureau, the Wrather Corporation, the Los Angeles County Chamber of
Commerce and the Coastal Commission,
Mayor Hughes appointed himself and Councilman Hinchl i f f e to serve as a
Marineland Ad Hoc Committee to work with the City Manager and City Attor-
ney.
It was the consensus to hold a public hearing on the adoption of an ordi-
nance on February 17, 1987.
ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:39 P.M.
on motion of Councilman Hinchlif f e .
ATTEST.:
706CP /MIN8.2 -2- January 26, 1987